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The Ondo state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko , has for the second consecutive time won the National Polio Achievement Award in the Nigeria Governor's Immunisation Leadership Challenge .
The award is at the instance of Bill & Melinda Gates and Dangote Foundations.
According to a statement by the state's Commissioner for Information, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the letter of the Award, was presented to Governor Mimiko in his office in Akure by the representative of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ms Lea Anne Hegg on Friday and signed by Bill Gates for Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as well Aliko Dangote for Dangote Foundation.
"For the second time in a row, Ondo State demonstrated the highest performance in the country against the Challenge indicators. Your personal leadership for eradicating polio and for strengthening routine immunization in Ondo state has been essential to this success", he said.
"As the winner of the National Polio Achievement Award, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will provide a one-time grant to support Ondo State in its efforts to achieve its priority health-related Millennium Development Goal" the letter read in part.
Ms Lea Hegg, while delivering the letter commended the State government for winning the Award for two consecutive times, adding that the state had been polio free in the last Six years.
She said the foundation sees Ondo State as the best in Nigeria in terms of activities that is going on in the health sector particularly in the area of immunization coverage and children maternal and mortality rate reduction.
Hegg further submitted that with the commitment of leaders like Governor Mimiko that Nigeria will eradicate polio as she commended the transformational leadership of the Governor and his health team.
She said the routine immunisation coverage , Abiye programme, children maternal and mortality rate of the Ondo State Government were recognised by the foundation and they earned Ondo State the Award for the two consecutive times.
Responding, Governor Mimiko, who said the Leadership Award is a challenge for him to continue to do more in the area of health service deliveries vowed to continue to work against poverty and that the immunisation will be regular.
He noted that his target is zero mortality which he said is doable stressing that he is building a sustainable project in the area of health in Ondo State.
Mimiko who used the avenue to thank health team headed by Dr. Dayo Adeyanju and the Primary Health Care Development Board, affirmed that President Goodluck Jonathan has shown uncommon commitment to the health of the people of Nigeria and attributed his award to the role played by the President.
He added that the Award was made possible by the leadership style of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Recall that the state won the 2012 edition of the award and winning the 2013 edition, being the latest makes the state the winner of the Immunization award for the second consecutive time.
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